Palm Jumeirah is an artificial archipelago with a shape of a palm, when seen from above, created by Nakheel. It is the only one of 3 palm islands that had been completed at the time of our visit (2014). Palm Jumeirah is the world's largest ariticial island and is filled with many luxury private villas, luxury apartments buildings, resort hotels, a water park, beaches, marinas, restaurants and a small airport. The private villas and some of the hotels are situated on the 16 fronds (palm blades), while the apartment buildings are situated along the boulevard in the middle. In the middle of the boulevard, there is an elevated, computer driven, driverless monorail train with stunning views of Dubai! In the end of this boulevard, the most famous structure of Palm Island is situated; the Atlantis resort, one of only two luxury hotels with this name, themed around the sea (the other one is on Bahamas). Surrounding the palm islands there is a crescent island with 14 themed resort hotels (like Atlantis, Fairmont, Trump, Waldorf Astoria and Kempinski). Celebrities like David Beckham and Brad Pitt own mansions on the island. Construction was started in 2001 and the first inhabitants moved there in 2006. There were a controversy about the island, since Nakheel extended the residences from 2000 to 4500, increasing the cost a lot, and there are rumours that the island is sinking.

The Atlantis Resort Hotel and Aquaventure Beach seen from the elevated train. The Atlantis, built in 2008 as the first resort on the island, is a copy of Atlantis on Bahamas. It is based on the theme of Atlantis, there is an underwater aquarium, 20 restaurants, and a waterpark inside.

The monorail train from Palm Jumeirah to the mainland of Dubai is driverless, elevated and has amazing views of Dubai! It is the first monorail in the Middle East.